Nylon
material · 1935 · Electric age
The first fully synthetic fibre (Carothers).
Principles and materials it uses
- Crude oil — is made of. The raw material is petrochemical.
Where it is used
- Hook-and-loop fastener — is material for. Nylon hooks and loops.
- Toothbrush — is material for. Nylon bristles (1938).
- Backpack — is material for. Nylon.
- Climbing rope — is material for. Nylon.
- Electric toothbrush — is material for. The bristles are nylon.
- Spacesuit — is material for. The outer layer is nylon and other synthetic fabrics.
- Airbag — is material for. The airbag is nylon.
- Digital blood pressure monitor — is material for. The cuff is nylon.
- Paraglider — is material for. The canopy is nylon.
- Hot air balloon — is material for. A light, strong envelope fabric.
- Parachute — is material for. Modern canopies are sewn from nylon.
History: what it evolved from and what it influenced
- Polyester — evolved into. The next synthetic fibre.
- Kevlar — evolved into. Aramids are relatives of polyamides.
What it is a kind of
- Polymer — is a kind of. A polyamide.
Things built in a similar way
- Silk — works like. Nylon was created as a substitute for silk.